A guide to photographing accessibility features

Guests with accessibility needs want to know what to expect when they arrive at your space. Uploading quality photos—from shots of your entryway to pictures of your interiors—to the Accessibility section of your listing can help guests determine if they can move around your property safely and comfortably.

As a Host, it’s up to you to make sure your listing description and photos are up to date and accurate. And while it’s not your responsibility to understand everyone’s needs, clearly photographing your space allows potential guests to decide if your listing is a good fit.

Airbnb reviews all accessibility features before they’re added to your listing. If an image does not clearly show the feature as required by our guidelines, we may ask you to upload a new one or remove the feature from your listing.

As you consider updating your listing, here are some things to keep in mind:

• You can specify that only certain rooms have accessibility features. For example, you may indicate that only one bathroom has step-free entry.
• You don’t need to provide professional photos—you can simply take pictures with a phone. These photos appear in the Accessibility section of your listing page, which is separate from your listing’s image gallery. You must include at least one photo of every accessibility feature you select.
• Use a measuring tape to show guests that you have wide doorways (this is part of our photo criteria) that will accommodate wheelchairs or other mobility devices.
• Uploading multiple photos of each feature from various angles and perspectives helps guests orient themselves in your space. For example, if you are showing a step-free doorway, take photos from either side of the threshold so the guest can see the entire pathway into the space.

Can guests get to your front door from the sidewalk or nearest parking area without encountering steps or stairs? What surfaces do they need to negotiate to get there? Make sure to take clear photos of the pathway that leads from the outside to your listing’s entrance.

How to photograph your entrance:
1. Stand at least 20 feet (6 metres) outside of the building entrance from the sidewalk or nearest parking area to show as much of the pathway as possible, and tilt the camera slightly toward the ground to show the route’s surface. If your listing is in an apartment building or hotel, be sure to include the pathway from the building entrance into the lobby to your unit’s entrance. If applicable, it’s also important to provide photos of any elevators or ramps.

2. Make sure to show the building entrance at the end of the pathway.

Show your guests that they can enter the front door, as well as the bedroom, bathroom, shower, and common spaces without having to negotiate any stairs, steps, curbs, or high thresholds (greater than 2 inches or 5 centimetres).

How to photograph entryways:
1. Open the door to the entrance you’d like to feature, and tilt the camera slightly toward the floor to clearly photograph the flat path on either side of the threshold.

2. Step back at least 5 feet (1.5 metres) from the entrance to show both sides of the doorway and, if the space has multiple entry points, make sure to capture each of them in your photos.

3. If you indicate a certain room (bedroom, bathroom, living room, etc.) has step-free access, you are confirming that the room is either on the ground floor or accessible by elevator or ramp. Include multiple photos that show the pathway from the front door into that room.

4. If you have a step-free shower, open the shower curtain or doors and tilt the camera slightly toward the floor of the entryway to show there are no steps or lips greater than approximately 1 inch (2.5 centimetres).

Tip: For more ways to take great photos on your smartphone, check out our photo tutorial.

For guests with mobility devices like wheelchairs, knowing the width of your doorways can help them determine if they’ll be able to navigate your space. At Airbnb, we consider a “wide entrance” one that is at least 32 inches (81 centimetres).

Open the door and use a measuring tape to show the width of the door frame. You may want to take two photos: one that shows the entire measuring tape and a second that is more zoomed in so the guest can read the measurement.

There are lots of other features that can help guests enter and move around your space comfortably. If you have any of these, be sure to take photos and add them to your listing to let your guests know what to expect.

1. Show as much of each feature as possible in your photographs.

2. Try to include as much of the surrounding area as well, so the guest can visualize where the feature is located or how large it is. For example, if you’re showing a shower chair, be sure to show it positioned in the shower.

Shower/bath chair: This is typically a bench or freestanding seat designed to help people with limited mobility bathe. It can also be a seat built into the wall, but it can’t be furniture that’s not intended for bathing (like patio furniture or plastic folding chairs that might slip on a wet surface).

A ceiling or mobile hoist: This is a lift attached to the ceiling or a freestanding device that helps people get in and out of a wheelchair.

Accessible parking spot: This is a public parking spot that’s designated for people with disabilities or a private parking area on your listing’s property that has at least 11 feet (3.35 metres) of space for one car. In the photo, show the public parking spot with designated parking signage or the private parking area with a parked car next to the guest parking space for reference. You can also use a measuring tape in the photo to show width.

Well-lit path to entrance: This is the external route from the driveway or outdoor pathway to your listing’s entrance that is lit by street lamps, landscaping lights, or other artificial light sources. Try to take a photo of the pathway at night or early morning so guests can see the location of the lighting and how bright it is.

You might also consider other ways to support guests with accessibility needs. With clear communication and a few updates to your space and listing, you can make a world of difference for so many guests.

Jake, a guest with limited mobility, sums it up nicely: “Having accurate information up front allows a disabled person to really be an explorer.”

*According to Airbnb data collected from January through May 2019